Marshall Mission Statement

The mission of Marshall Middle School is to provide a safe and positive learning

environment which fosters student achievement and success for all.

Marshall Vision Statement

A Community of Independent Learners

Dear Student,

Welcome to Marshall Middle School. Our school exists for the educational benefit and well-being of all of its students. Every action and every decision that we make considers the unique intellectual, emotional, social and physical needs of young adolescents and is devoted to ensuring that all students achieve to their full potential as productive members of society. The school culture is one that treats each individual with dignity and respects the rights, viewpoints, and contributions of others.

It is the intention of the school administration and faculty to make your days here at the Marshall Middle School as enjoyable and productive as possible. The rules and regulations as stated herein are guidelines with enough latitude to allow an individual student the right to practice self-discipline within the framework of respecting the rights and property of others.

Have a great school year!

Roland E. Boucher Jr., Principal

These handbook guidelines cover all events during the school day and all extra-curricular activities at the school. By following the policies and procedures outlined here, students, parents, and staff can all contribute to the success of each student. Many of these procedures will also guarantee the safety and security of our school.

The school’s expectations are as follows.

Students will:

be conscientious and serious about learning.
cooperate with staff and their fellow students.
always act in a polite and respectful manner.
be good ambassadors for their school and their community.

While at school students should:

know what your teachers expect and how to meet these expectations.
listen carefully and respect the opinion of others.
come to class prepared.
feel safe and comfortable to express your own ideas and views.
treat property of others as you want your property to be treated.
use what you have mastered to help others.
find the corridors of the Marshall safe.
treat the cafeteria as you would treat your dining area at home.
observe proper behavior in the restrooms and other shared areas.

Teachers will:

provide a positive learning environment.
respect each student .
carry out district and school policies.

Parents will:

· see that children have good attendance.

· take an interest in their child’s studies.

· support the school’s mission and vision.

Additional information

· Additional information about the Marshall Middle School can be found at:

http://www.billerica.mec.edu/marshall/marsh.htm

· For clarification on specific school district policies, please refer to Billerica Public Schools Student and Parent Handbook Section II.

STUDENT ATTENDANCE

Students are expected to attend school daily. Students who develop a positive pattern of school attendance are more likely to meet with academic success.

Absences

When a student is absent or tardy, he/she is required to bring in a note. Absentee notes are to state the specific reason(s), date(s), and include parent/guardian signature. Failure to comply will result in disciplinary action.

A student who is recorded as absent for the day may not participate in after-school programs or evening school activities.

· Students with chronic attendance problems will be referred to the school administration.

o The school will send formal written notification to parents of those students who are chronically absent or late to school.

o When a student accumulates five or more absences per academic quarter, parents may be invited to meet with administration, guidance staff, and the school attendance officer here at the school. In cases where attendance does not improve, students may be referred to Lowell Juvenile Court.

Sample Absent/Tardy Note

Date

To the Principal

Please excuse John Smith for being absent (or tardy) on Thursday, September 7^th, He had a sore throat. Please call me at 978-543-2100 if you have any questions.

Yours Truly,

Mrs. Smith

Unexcused Absences

When students are absent from school for the purpose of family vacation, these absences will be recorded as unexcused. Parents should be aware that Massachusetts General Law sets specific limits on the number of allowable absences. Teachers are not required to provide students with make-up work for unexcused absences.

Tardiness

Punctuality is an important life skill to develop. Without a written excuse a student may be assigned an office detention. Chronic tardiness is a serious issue and will result in a referral to administration. Students who accumulate five or more incidents of tardiness in one quarter may receive office detentions. In cases where students continue to arrive late to school, students may be referred to Lowell Juvenile Court.

Dismissal

Dismissal procedure is an area of school responsibility that requires particular attention. Under most circumstances a student will only be dismissed to legal guardians who come into the school and identify themselves. Under carefully guarded circumstances, we may dismiss a student to a relative or responsible adult but only with permission of the legal guardian. A student who is to be dismissed must present a note to the office on entering the school. The note should indicate the time of dismissal, whether or not the student will be returning to school that day, and the person who will be picking up the student. All persons dismissing students must check in at the front office. The secretary will then call the student from class.

Arriving Late or returning

Any student arriving to school after the start of the school day, whether tardy or returning must first check in at the school office.

Partial days

A student must attend school for a minimum of three (3) hours to be given partial credit for attendance. If a student arrives at school after 10:35 A.M. or leaves school before 10:35 A.M. and does not return, the student will be recorded as absent for the entire day.

SCHOOL ROUTINES

Traveling in building

Students are to be dropped off in the front lower parking lot. There are signs which identify the student drop off area.
Use the stairs and paved walks when entering or leaving the building. Stand on the sidewalk while waiting for your bus to stop. Do not run towards a bus; especially if it is moving.
Students who arrive early must report to the cafeteria. At the 7:20 A.M. bell, when the teachers are on duty throughout the school, students may proceed directly to their lockers and then to homeroom. Wandering inside the building before school hours is not allowed.
While in the corridors, walk quietly and keep to the right. Students are required to carry a pass when traveling in the building during class periods.
Students are to leave the school building upon dismissal unless they are under the direct supervision of a teacher. Students will go to their lockers before reporting to activities, extra help, or detention.

Visitors

All visitors are required to enter the school through the main entrance on the west side of the building. A security camera and buzzer system have been installed to monitor the entrance.

Under no circumstances are students allowed to bring unregistered friends or relatives to attend classes. All visitors are required to report to the main office and sign in.

Class Periods

Periods are typically 43 minutes long with a 3-minute passing time between periods. Bells will signal the beginning and end of classes.

Combination Locks and Lockers

Your homeroom teacher will assign combination locks and lockers. Students are to use only the combination lock and locker assigned to them. Locker security is the student’s responsibility. Students should never give out their lock combination and locks should be secured at all times. Students are charged $5.00 for a replacement lock. To open your lock:

TURN RIGHT two or more whole turns and stop at your first number.
TURN LEFT one whole turn past the first number and stop at your second number.
TURN RIGHT and stop at your third number.

Locker and Lavatory Privileges

Lockers may be used before homeroom, after period 4, and at dismissal. Students must have a pass to go to lockers and lavatories except at designated times.

Teachers’ Rooms

Teachers’ rooms and copy rooms are off limits to students and visitors unless accompanied by a teacher.

After-school Procedure

Students are to report to after-school activities or detentions prepared to exit the building. Under no circumstances are students to remain after school unless under the direct supervision of a teacher. Students are not to re-enter the building after dismissal without checking in at the front office.

Fire Drills

During a fire drill, students will exit the building quickly and quietly under the supervision of the teacher. Once outside the school, students must remain in their group with their teacher so attendance can be taken.

Physical Education Guidelines

Every student is expected to participate. For health and safety purposes, it is necessary for each student to change school attire to appropriate clothes and sneakers for physical education. Locker rooms and baskets are provided. Students may supply their own locks. Students are responsible for securing their personal property. Medical reasons that would prohibit your son/daughter from participating in more than one class period should be in the form of a doctor’s note.

Lost and Found

Lost books and personal items are turned into the office. Students should check periodically to locate missing items. Students are expected to reimburse the school for any textbook, library book, or school property that is lost or damaged.

Clothing and Hair Styles

The Marshall Middle School respects the rights of students to determine their mode of dress and hair styles to the extent that these do not lead to a disruption of order necessary to provide a safe and appropriate educational atmosphere.

1. Students may not wear the following items in school: coats, hats, visors, bandannas, sunglasses, chains, or any clothing that suggests gang activity.

2. Any clothing or manner of dress that is disruptive to the classroom environment will be deemed unacceptable. The school administration will determine what is unacceptable.

3. Appropriate apparel should be worn at all times. Examples of inappropriate dress are as follows:

· strapless tops, spaghetti straps, or low cut tops

· bare midriffs

· short shorts or mini-skirts

· exposed underwear (boxers, thongs, bra straps, etc.)

· athletic shirts or tank tops with large arm holes,

· pants dragging on the floor,

· platform shoes or high heels

4. Any clothing that displays offensive language or images or suggests inappropriate or illegal behavior is not allowed in school. The school administration will determine what is offensive.

Field Trip Policy

Field trips are an extension of the curriculum. All trips are planned at the discretion of the teachers and must be approved by the principal. Participation depends on the student’s self discipline, motivation, and responsibility. If there are concerns regarding a student’s participation on a field trip, parents will be contacted.

Dances

The rules and regulations governing school sponsored dances will be presented to the students through Student Council. These rules and regulations are in contractual form with provision for both student and parent signatures.

Food, Drink, and Gum

Food and drink in hallways and classrooms is prohibited unless approved by a teacher or medical staff. Gum is not allowed to be chewed by any student during school hours. Clothing, hair, school furnishings, and books can be badly damaged by gum. Consequences for gum chewing will be given by the teacher. Repeated offenses will be reported to the office.

Respect for School Property

All areas of the Marshall Middle School are important parts of your learning and should be respected. Therefore, vandalism is not tolerated. Students who damage property will be required to reimburse the school, and are subject to discipline. Vandalism includes, but is not limited to, graffiti being placed on walls or desks or defacement of school property. If damage cannot be cleaned by the student, reimbursement by the student may be required.

Bus Conduct

Buses and bus stops are an extension of school jurisdiction. Serious or repeated offenses may result in the loss of transportation privileges. Bus conduct guidelines are outlined in a system-wide handbook. Reference the Billerica Public Schools Student and Parent Handbook Section II pp. 20-21.

Smoking

The Billerica School Committee has created a Smoke Free Environment for all Billerica Schools; therefore, the use of tobacco products is prohibited at all times by students, staff, and visitors in all buildings and grounds and at all school-sponsored activities. Possession of tobacco products is illegal on school grounds. Students are not to have cigarettes in school. Students caught smoking or in possession of tobacco products will be suspended from school.

Telephones

Students are permitted to use the pay phone during school hours with a written pass from a teacher.
Students are not allowed to use cellular phones in school. Cellular phones are to be kept in student lockers and turned off during school hours. Those students who choose to have a cell phone take full responsibility for its security.

Inappropriate Possessions

The following possessions are inappropriate for school and are not allowed

Homework

Home study is a necessary part of each pupil’s educational program. Each student must be expected to spend time in addition to scheduled class time to achieve satisfactory progress. Setting aside specific “study time” nightly (to reread notes or texts, memorize information, practice math problems and study rules/formulas) can increase student understanding of educational concepts. Some assignments are long range in nature and require students to develop a plan for completion. Careful planning and a good homework routine eliminate the necessity of spending too much time completing an assignment the day before it is due.

Make-up Work

In the event of an absence, the responsibility rests with the student to make up assignments in a reasonable time frame. After a student is absent for three consecutive days, a parent may call before 8 A.M. and request assignments through the guidance department. Parent may pick up the work after 2 P.M. in the office.

Cafeteria

Hot lunches are served in the cafeteria as follows:

A lunch — 10:54 a.m. B lunch — 11:19 a.m. C lunch — 11:44 a.m.

Lunch prices are set in September for each school year.
Students may bring a bagged lunch and eat it in the cafeteria during the assigned lunch.
Ice cream, individual food items, and beverages are available for purchase.
Free and reduced lunch program applications are distributed at the beginning of the school year. Applications are available throughout the year in the school office.

HEALTH SERVICES

Medication

All medication must be brought in by a parent and given to the school nurse. The nurse must have a doctor’s note and a parent’s note for medication to be dispensed. The medication must be in a container with the prescription labeled by the pharmacist with the student’s name, date, medication dosage, and the physician’s name. Pharmacists will provide additional containers for school use.

Mandated Health Screenings

Students entering grade 6 are required to have a physical examination during the academic year. This can be accomplished either by your own physician or the school physician. Notice will be given as to the dates of the school physicals.
Students entering grade 7 are required to have a tetanus booster as it is required every five (5) years while in school.
Vision and hearing screenings are done during grades 6 and 8.
Postural screenings are done in grades 6-8 by the school.
Heights and weights are done in grades 6-8 by the school.

Illness at School

All students who are ill during school hours are to report to the nurse’s office with a pass. Parents must report to the office before picking up a student. Parents must indicate on the emergency form a person authorized to pick up a student. Dismissal will only be to the person authorized on the emergency form.

REPORT CARDS AND GRADES

Schedule of reporting

Students will receive report cards at the conclusion of each academic quarter. Students will also receive progress reports at the midpoint of each quarter. A calendar listing report card dates and progress dates will be mailed to parents.

Report card return policy

Report cards must be returned signed by a parent or guardian within 3 days of issuance to the student.

Honor roll policy

The Honor Roll policy recommended and accepted by the Middle School Standards Committee will be:

· High Honors—A student must maintain a 90% average or above in all subjects.

· Honors—A student must maintain an 80% average or above in all subjects

Parent-teacher conferences

Three official opportunities are given for parents to meet teachers during the school year:

à Back-to-School Night à November Parent-Teacher Conferences à March Parent-Teacher Conferences

If a parent would like to meet with one or more teachers outside of these times, a team meeting may be requested. Please contact the guidance office to arrange an appointment.

Promotion/assignment/retention

See Billerica Public Schools Student and Parent Handbook Section II for the district policy regarding the promotion or retention of students.

DISCIPLINE CODE AND PROCEDURES

A discipline code is necessary so that students will learn to respect the rights and property of others. Chronic discipline problems will be addressed by teachers, guidance staff, and administration. All students are expected to meet the requirements for behavior set forth in this handbook. Chapter 766 of Massachusetts General Laws requires that additional provisions be made for students who have been found by an evaluation to have special needs and whose program is described in an individualized educational plan.

Cheating

Cheating is unethical and unacceptable. Students can expect consequences from teachers and/or the administration if they are involved in cheating. Examples of cheating are as follows.

· Copying another student’s work during a test or quiz.

· Copying another student’s work and submitting it as your own.

· Allowing another student to copy your work.

· Sharing test questions with a student who has not yet taken the test.

Forgery

Forging (signing) a parent or guardian’s name on a note or permission slip is unacceptable. Students who commit forgery will face disciplinary action.

Drug and Alcoholic Beverage Policy

The possession, sale, or transfer of narcotics, sedatives, tranquilizers, stimulants, alcoholic beverages, and/or hallucinogenic materials and substances on school premises or at any school activity is prohibited. Any violation of this policy (use or possession of, or in presence of) will result in immediate police notification and suspension from school. (See Billerica Public Schools Student and Parent Handbook Section II.)

Possession of Dangerous Devices

The possession in school or on the bus of any items or materials which may be injurious to the students or anyone else is cause for suspension. The Education Reform Act of 1933 states that the possession of a weapon is cause for expulsion from school. Any student found in possession will be suspended for a minimum of five days and a hearing before the principal will determine whether the student is expelled from school. Other devices considered dangerous and which warrant suspension include, but are not limited to, lighters, matches, fireworks, party snappers, and stink bombs.

Harassment

It is the policy of the school to provide a learning environment where individuals treat each other with respect. When words or actions are directed at a particular person or group to trouble, annoy, or torment them, it is harassment. Harassment of any nature will not be tolerated. Sexual harassment in school is unwanted sexual behavior from an individual or individuals, which interfere with your right to get an education or to participate in school activities. All harassment is illegal. Complaints will be dealt with according to school district policy. (See Billerica Public Schools Student and Parent Handbook Section II.)

Hazing

As defined by the 1985 Act prohibiting the Practice of Hazing, hazing is a serious crime punishable under state law. Hazing means any conduct or method initiation by a student group, which willfully or recklessly endangers the physical or mental health of any student. Students who plan, participate in, or are in the willful presence of hazing will be subject to suspension for up to five days. They will not be allowed to return without a mandatory hearing with the principal, at which the student and parent or guardian are present. Students who are aware of hazing but fail to report the offense to the appropriate school authorities will also be subject to punishment.

Bullying

Bullying is unacceptable. The school will not tolerate bullying in any form. Students who are victims of bullying should be referred to administration for immediate action. Students who witness incidents of bullying are expected to report such incidents to a member of the school staff. (See Billerica Public Schools Student and Parent Handbook Section II.)

Classroom Offenses

Classroom offenses are to be handled by the teacher. A teacher’s primary approach will be to use preventive and constructive discipline.

1. Examples of Teachers’ Responses

Reprimand
Seat change
Teacher-Student conference
Teacher/special education meeting

If the student is presently being serviced under an Educational Plan, a meeting with the special education liaison may prove helpful.

Parental notification (phone)
Parental notification (written)
Detention
Parental Conference
Office Referral (major offenses)

Detentions

1. Teacher Detention

When detention is assigned, students must be given 24 hours notice. This is to insure that parents are notified, and transportation is arranged, if needed. If a student who has an obligation to report to a teacher in a specified room does not report, teachers will proceed as follows.

a. The teacher has the responsibility of conferring with the student in order to determine whether or not the student has a legitimate excuse.

b. If the excuse is not valid, the student is to be referred to the office.

2. Conflict Between Teacher Detention and Office Detention:

If a student has been assigned both an office and a teacher detention, the student must report to the teacher detention first. After serving the teacher detention, the student will be escorted to the cafeteria to serve the office detention.

3. Conflict Between Teacher Detentions:

If a student has two teacher detentions to report to, he must report to the teacher who gave him the detention first and on the following day, the student must serve the detention of the second teacher. If a student is receiving many detentions, parents, guidance, and the appropriate assistant principal should be contacted.

4. Office Detention:

Office detentions are only issued by the Principal or Assistant Principals.

Office Detention Procedure

When assigned office detention by an Assistant Principal, each student reads and abides by the following rules:

· Students will come to office detention with study materials and engage in productive silent study.

· Office detention begins promptly at 1:45 P.M. and ends at 2:45 P.M.

· Students must use the lavatory facilities before office detention as they must exit the building immediately at 2:45 P.M.

· Students must bring their coats, books, and any other items from their lockers to office detention as they must exit the building at 2:45 P.M.

· Students should make any phone calls before office detention as they must exit the building at 2:45 P.M.

· Students must leave the building once dismissed. However, no one is dismissed before 2:45 P.M.

· Students are not to re-enter the building once they have been dismissed.

· No student is allowed to wait, either in school or on school grounds, for a student who is serving detention.

Suspension as a Chosen Consequence

A. Students choose suspension when they choose to engage in the following.

1. repeated violation of any school rule

2. use of obscene language

3. refusing an appropriate staff request

4. stealing

5. vandalism

B. Students choose suspension when they make the choice to possess and/or ingest/inhale drugs and/or alcohol, on school property which includes school buses and bus stops. CONSEQUENCES CHOSEN: 5 day suspension and notification of police (in compliance with the Memorandum of Understanding between the Billerica Police Department and the Billerica School Department) and possible expulsion from school.

C. Students choose suspension when they are found in possession of smoking materials or tobacco products. These include cigarettes, cigars, lighters, or matches.

D. Students choose suspension when they choose to possess and/or use dangerous devices or use ordinary materials as weapons.